Automatically-adjustable slug mold



Sept. 29, 1925.

1,555,062 M. c. KELLY ET AL AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE SLUG MOLD Original Filed March 9. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 amen 015 Sept. 29, 1925. 1,555,062

M. c. KELLY ET AL AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE SLUG MOLD ori in-a1 Filed March 9. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ammwm iii Patented Sept. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,555,062 PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL C. KELLY AND JAMES D. FOOTE, OF SELMA, ALABAMA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE THIRD TO ERAZIER T. RAIFORD, F SELMA, ALABAMA.

AUTOMA'IICALLY-ADJUSTABLE SLUG MOLD.

Application filed-March 1923, Serial No. 624,007. Renewed June 10, 1925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MICHAEL C. KELLY and James D. Foorn, citizens of the United States, residing at Selma, in the county of Dallas and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improven'ients in Automatically-Adjustable Slug Molds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to line casting, and has special reference to a mold sizing device for slug casting machines.

In the operation of an ordinary slug casting machine there is provided a wheel, which is known as the mold wheel, and which supports the mold in which the line of type arecast. This mold wheel has a rotary movement, and also moves toward and from a front member or support on which is mounted the matrix vise, this being a mechanism to clamp a line of matrices firmly in position in front of the mold. One jaw of such vise usually is a fixed jaw, while the other is movable, the fixed jaw being positioned in alinement with oneend of the mold cavity. Also there is supported an ejector and trimming mechanism, thelatter being commonly called the knife, and being supported at a position where three-fourths ofa revolution of themold wheel will bring the mold opposite the ejector. The ordinary operation of casting a line of type may be briefly stated as'fol lows: I

The matrices having been assembled and in the vise, the mold is brought up against the matrices and molten type metal is injected into the back of the mold from the melting pot/ The mold is then moved back and the mold wheel'revolves through three fourths of a revolution. When it reaches the position oppositethe knife and ejector, the mold is again advanced and the ejector operates to push out the formed slug or line through the knives which trim the line to type high size. It is common to provide means for regulating the length of the mold cavity so that lines of difierent lengths may be obtained, but the operation of regulating these lengths has always been heretofore effected by some manual. means, and has never been so arranged that the length of the matrix line determines the length of the mold cavity.

The principal and most important object of the present invention 1s to provide a novel and improved means for regulating With the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details otconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicatelike parts in the several views, and:

Fig. 1 is a face view of the mold as constructed in accordance with this invention.

, 2 is a rear view thereof with the rear portion of the casing removed in order to disclose the arrangement of the first movable parts.

" Fig. 3 is' a section on the line 33 of Fig.

'1, the view being taken to a greatly enlarged of different elements.

Fig.,4= is a view on the same scale as Fig. 3, but taken on-the line H 01": Fig. 1, and disclosing the mechanism for holding the lateral or width regulating side of the mold in adjustable position.

Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 5-5- of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a detail showing a fixed ratchet used herewith.

Fig. 7 is a view from the frontof the-mold showing the operating blades in their relation to theknife and matrix vise, the parts common to such machines beingshown in dotted lines.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the level actuating blades.

scale in order to better disclose the operation Fig. 9 is an end view of the other blade.

,105 one of they Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section through the movable knife blade of the trimming mechanism as used herewith.

Fig. 14 is a detail section on the line l t--14 of Fig. 13.

In carrying out the invention and in the embodiment herein disclosed, the mold wheel is indicated in general at W, the matrix vise at B, and movable jaw thereof at J. Also the knife and ejector mechanism are shown at K.

Supported on the mold wheel is a mold having a body provided on its face with a pair of longitudinally extending slots 11, andhaving at one side thereof a mold cavity 12, the upper side of which is closed by side member 13 provided withv legs 14 which extend transversely in suitable grooves or passages 15 formed in the mold body, and are heldin position therein bymeans of a cover plate 16. Also the mold body is provided with a series of transversely extending slots 17 wherein are slidably mounted the shanks 18 o'f mold sizing members each provided with ahead 19. These heads are arranged side'by side and have bevelled or cutaway portions 20 adjacent the shanks. The heads are of such width that they may extend entirely'across the mold'cavity 12 when the mold is opened to its fullest extent, and. by an inspection of Fig. 1, it will be seen that upon movement of a certain of these. members transversely of the mold, they will lie side by side at one end of the mold cavity, thus shortening the space for the lead. At the extreme end of the mold, there is also provided an additional sliding member 21 which serves to close this end of the mold in accordance with the movement of the width gauging member 13.

Pivotled alongside of the respective shanks 1.8 is a series of tilting levers 22, which have their ends turned upward so-as'to project into the slots 11. These tilting levers are each provided with a slot 23 which engages a pin 24 projecting from the respective shank '18. Thus, upon depression of the lower end of one of the levers, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the mold sizing member is caused to move outward across the mold cavity. Corresponding depressions of the other end of .such lever will, in. like manner, cause the mold sizing member to move inward and open such cavity.

This method involving the use of moving members suchv as 20 in connection with the mold cavity has been heretofore used, but no means has been provided to automatically cause movement of these members in conformity with the length of line as given by the matrices held in the matrix vise. In

the present instance, there is' provided a.

blade is so positioned that, when the mold is opposite the line of matrices, the blade will enter the lower slot 11, and press upon certain of the levers 22. It will be obvious that under the conditions of the blade and mo-vable aw being so alined, the lateral position of this blade will be regulated by the position of the jaw, and consequently, dillereut numbers of levers, in accordance with the position of the jaw, will be pressed upon as the matrix line is lengthened or shortened in the operation of casting. In other words, the shorter the line to be cast, the nearer the movable jaw will be to the fixed jaw of the device, and consequently, the greater will be the number of levers 22 engaged and operatedv by the blade 25.

It quite frequently happens in the operation of line casting machines that a change from one length of line to the other is made necessary by different conditions of the type setting, and these changes may take place with such frequency that resetting of the mold length to its greatest dimensions by hand would act to delay the work and inconvenience the operator of the machine. To avoid this, there is provided a second blade, which is fixed to one of the knife jaws in such a. position and manner that upon the mold being rotated to ejecting and trimming position, this blade will extend along the whole length of the upper slot 11 so that when the mold is moved forward in the operation of ejection, the blade will contact with all of the upper ends of the levers which have previously been actuated, and thus will restore the mold sizing members 20 to their original position. Since the blade 25 operates automatically in accordance with the position of the movable vise jaw and the blade 25 restores all parts automatically to their original position, the length of the cast line may be varied as often and as much as the exigencies of the case require without in any way delaying or hindering the operation of type setting and casting. Thus, the mechanism for detern'iining the length of the line cast is wholely automatic in its character.

In order to provide for the varying widths of lines, the movable side '13 and its arms let carry certain mechanism which cooperates with certain other elements on the top or cover plate 10. It is well understood that the heights of type are given in a peculiar measure termed points. Each of these points is equal to one-seventy second of an inch. Now in a ratchet mechanism based on teeth, only oneseventy second of an inch apart would be too fine to stand the wear and strain of ordis nary uses. There is therefore provided on the body 10, at each end thereof, a ratchet member 27, the teeth oi: which are spaced tour-seventy seconds of an inch apart, That is to say, these teeth have a pitch of four points in type measure. The legs 14 are slotted as at 28 and pivoted in the slots are L-shaped levers 29, each of which carries a series of ratchet teeth corresponding to the ratchet teeth just described. It will be observed that there are, four of these levers 29, and that the ratchet teeth on each lever are positioned in staggered relation to'the ratchet teeth on the other levers, the extent of displacement being one-seventy second of an inch, or the equivalent of one point. The levers 29 are held in engagementwith the fixed ratchet teeth by means of springs 30, each having slots therein to provide four spring ends, or onevfor each lever. The ends of these levers project upward through the slots 28 into a groove 31, so that they can be reached and depressed by the mechanism described below. Under these circumstances, it will be'obvious that as the movable side is moved away from the fixed side of the mold, one of the levers will engage solidly with the fixed teeth at each movementof one-seventy seconds of an inch. Consequently, the members 20, which bear against the movable side of the mold, cannot force the mold open, but it can only be increased in width by depressing the leyer ends and moving the movable side member. It is obvious that it may be readily moved into itsnarrowest limits. I

In order to prevent accidental movement of the members 20, there is provided on the shank of each member a slot- 32, which is engaged by a depressed portion of the spring 33 fixed on the bodyof the mold. These springs are so arranged that they will yield to permit forcible movement of these members 20 by the action of the blade 25, but

will resist movement due to any jar, such as takes place in the operation of the machine. a

It is also to be noted that the arrange ment for preventing the mold opening too wide acts to maintainfcorrect height of line forming the type body againstthe pressure exerted by the molten metal being injected into the mold.

- In drder to automatically adjust the width of'the line, certain mechanism is used which willnow be described.

I nism is shown particularly in Figures 13 and 14, wherein 34 indicates the movable knife of the trimming mechanism,- and this knife is provided with a longitudinal slot opening extends a plunger 37 provided with ahead 38 held outwardly by a spring 39. This plunger carries a rod 40 located in the slide and provided with cam'projections 41 which slide beneath arms 42 secured to the This mecha- 41 against the arms 42 thereby tilting the f said arms on their pivots bringing into operationthe fingers 46. These fingers thus act to free the ratchet teeth from each other, and leave the mold side so that it can be moved. Now, the operator, in adjusting the distance between his knives automatically adjusts the width of the mold. is

There has thus been provided a simple and eflicient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changesmay be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the inaterial spirit thereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

We claim:

1. In a type casting machine having a mold support and a matrix support movable.

one towards the other, a mold having a mold cavity and provided with a series of members movable with respect to the moldto close definite lengths of the moldcavity, and means comprising a pair of bars resiliently urged apart on the matrix support arranged to selectively actuate said members and operable upon movement of the movable support toward'the other support, one of the pair of bars being carried by the matrix support and the other of said pair urged toward the mold support.

2. In a type casting machine having a mold support and a matrix support carrying a'matrix visehaving a movable j aw, one of said supports being movable to and fro-m the other, a mold carried by the mold sup port and 'havinga mold cavity, a' series of mold cavity sizing members supported movably by the mold, and means comprising a pair of bars resiliently urged apart fixed to said movable jaw to engage and actuate the sizing members in accordance with the position of the vise jaw, oneofthe pair of bars being carried by the matrix support and the other of said pair urged toward the mold support. v

3. In a type casting machine having a mold support and a matrix support movable one towards the other, a mold having a mold cavity and provided with a seriesof. mem

bers movable with respect to the mold' to close definite lengths of the mold cavity, and means comprising a pair'of bars resiliently urged apart on the matrix support arranged to selectively actuate said members and operable upon movement of the movable upport toward the other support, said means being arranged to actuatethe members in accordance with the number of matrices carried by the support, one of the pair of bars being carried by the matrix support and the other of said pair urged toward the mold support.

l. In a type casting machine having a mold support and a matrix and knife support, a mold carried by the mold support and having a mold cavity and means for blocking oii selective lengths of said cavity, means on the matrix and knife support arranged to engage and actuate the first men tioned means comprising a pair of bars resiliently urged apart to cause blocking off of a length ofthe cavity, and other means on the matrix and knife support for opening the blocked off portion of the cavity one of the pair of bars being carried by the ma.- trix support and the other of said pair urged toward the mold support,

5. In a type casting machine having a mold support and a matrix and knife support, one of said supports being-movable toward and from the other, the second support carrying-a matrix vise-having a movable jaw; a mold supported on the mold supportand provided with a mold cavity, a-

series of mold sizing members carried by the mold and mounted for transverse movement into and out of the cavity, means comprising a pair of bars resiliently urged apart, carried by the movable jaw for actuating said members and causing them to move into the cavity, and other means adj acent the knife for actuating said members in the opposite direction, one of the pair of bars being carried by the m atrix support and the other of said pair urged toward the mold support.

6. In a type casting machine having a mold support and a. matrix and knife support, one of said supports being movable toward and from the 0ther,thesecond support carrying a matrix vise having a movable jaw;

a mold supported on the mold support and provided with a mold cavity, a series of mold sizing members carried by the mold and mounted for transverse movement into and out of the cavity, a series of tilting levers each connected to a respective member to actuate the same, each of said lever-s being pivoted to the mold intermediate its ends, means comprising a pair of bars resiliently urged apart on the movable jaw for engaging the levers each at one end, and means on the matrix and knife support for engaging the levers at their opposite ends,

one of the pair of bars being carried by the matrix support and the other of said pair urged toward the mold support.

7. In a type casting machine having a mold support and a matrix and knife support, one of said supports being movable toward and from the other, the second support carrying a matrix vise having a movable jaw;' a mold supported on the mold support and provided with a mold cavity, a series of mold sizing members carried by the mold and mounted for transverse movement into and out of the cavity, a series of tilting levers each connected to a respective member to actuate the same, each of said levers being pivoted to the mold inter mediate its ends, a blade carried by the movable jaw to move therewith and positioned to lie opposite the lovers each at one end thereof, said blade comprising a pair of bars resiliently urged apart and a second blade carried bythe matrix and knife support and positioned to lie opposite the remaining ends of all of the levers and spaced on the second support from the first blade. I

8. In a type casting machine having a re tatable mold wheel, a matrix vise having a movable jaw, and a knife; a mold supported on the mold wheel and having a mold cavity, a series of mold sizing members mounted for sliding movement transverse the mold to move into and out of the mold cavity and fill a portion of its length, tilting levers each pivoted intermediate its ends and each connected to a respective sizing member to actuate the same, a blade fixed to the movable jaw to move therewith, the end of the blade being alined withthe matrix engaging face of said jaw, said blade'being opposite similarly positioned ends ofsaid levers in one position of the wheel whereby forward movement of the mold causes engagement of the blade witlr certain of said levers, said blade comprising a pair of bars resilently urged apart, and a second blade fixed to said knife and positioned to lie opposite the remaining ends of the levers upon rotation of the mold wheel to ejecting position whereby forward movement of the mold wheel causes engage-- ment of the last mentioned blade with the remaining ends of said levers.

9. In a type casting machine having a mold support and a matrix support movable one towards the other, a mold having a mold cavity and-provided with a series of members movable with respect to the mold to close definite lengths of the mold cavity, and means comprising a pair of bars resiliently urged apart on the matrix support arranged to selectively actuate said members and operable upon movement of the movable support toward the other support, said mold being adjustable for varying widths and being provided with means for holding it in adjustment releasably whereby to limit movements of said members in one direction, one of the pair of bars being carried by the matrix support and the other of said pair urged toward the mold support.

10. In a type casting machine having a mold support and a matrix support carrying a matrix vise having a movable jaw, one of said supports being movable to and from the other, a mold carried by the mold support and having a mold cavity, a series of mold cavity sizing members supported movably by the mold, and means comprising a pair of bars resiliently urged apart fixed to said movable jaw to engage and actuate the siz ing members in accordance with the position of the vise jaw, said mold being adjustable for varying widths and being provided with means for holding it in adjustment releasably whereby to limit movements of said members'in one direction, one of the pair of bars being carried by the matrix support and the other of said pair urged toward the mold support.

11. In a type casting machine having a mold support and a matrix support movable one towards the other, a mold having a mold cavity and providedwith a series of members movable with respect to the mold to close definite lengths of the mold cavity, and means comprising a pair of bars resiliently urged apart on the matrix support arranged to selectively actuatesaid members and operable upon movement of the movable sup port toward the other support, said means being arranged to actuate the members in accordance with the number of matrices carried by the support, said mold being adjust able for varying widths and being provided with means for holdingit in adjustmentreleasably whereby to limit movements of said members in one direction, one of the pair of bars being carried by the matrix support and the other of said pair urged toward the mold support. I v

12. In a type casting machinehaving a mold support and a matrix and knife sup port, a mold carried by the mold support and having a mold cavity and means for blocking off selective lengths of said cavity, means comprising a pair of bars resiliently urged apart on the matrix and knife support arranged to engage and actuate the first mentioned to cause blocking off of a length of the cavity, and other means on the matrix and knife support for opening the blocked off portion of the cavity, said mold being adjustable for varying widths and being provided with means for holding it in adjustment releasably whereby to limit move ments of said members in one direction, one of the pair of bars being carried by the matrix support and the other of said pair urged toward the mold support.

13. In a type casting machine having a mold support and a matrix and knife support, one of said supports being movable toward and from the other, the second support carrying a matrix vise having a mov able jaw; a mold supported on the mold support and provided withYamold cavity, a series of'mold sizing members carried by the mold and mounted for transverse movement into and out of the cavity, means comprising a pair :of bars resiliently urged apart, carried byithe movable jawlfo-rsactuating said members and causing them to move into the cavity, and other means/ad'- jacent the knife for actuating said members in the opposite direction, said mold being adjustable for varying widths and being provided with meanswfor holding it in adjustment releasably whereby to limit movements of said members in one direction, one of .the pair of bars being carried by the matrix support and the other of said pair urged toward the mold support.

14:. In a type casting machine having a mold support and a matrix and knife support, one of said supports being movable to ward and from the other, the second support carrying a matrix vise having a movable jaw; a mold supported on the mold support and provided with a mold cavity, a series of mold sizing members carried by the mold and mounted for transverse movement into and out of the cavity, a seriesoftilting leverseach connected to a respective member to actuate the same, each ofsaidlevers being pivoted to the moldintermediate its ends, meanscomprising a pair of barsresiliently urged apart on the movablejawfor engaging the levers each at one end, and means on the matrix and knife support for engaging the levers at their opposite ends, said mold being adjustable for varying widths and being provided with means for holdingit in adjust ment releasably whereby to limit movements of said members in one direction, one of the pair of bars beingcarried by the matrix support and the other of said pairurged towardthemold support l 15. In a type casting machine having a mold support and a matrix and knife support, one of said supports being movable toward and from the other, the second support carrying a matrix vise having a movable jaw; a mold supported on the mold support and provided with a mold cavity, a series of mold sizing members carried by the mold and mounted for transverse movement into and out of the cavity, a series of tilting levers each connected to a respective member to actuate the same, each of said levers being pivoted to the mold intermediate its ends, a blade carried by the movable jaw to move therewith and positioned to lie opposite the levers each at one end thereof, said blade comprising a pair of bars resiliently urged apart, and a second blade carried by the matrix and knife support and positioned to the mold to move into and out of the mold cavity and fill a portion of its length, tilting levers each pivoted intermediate its ends and each connected to a respective sizing member to actiuate the same, a blade fixed to the movable jaw toqmove therewith, the end of the blade being alined with the matrix engaging face of said jaw, said blade being opposite similarly positioned ends of said lovers in one position of the wheel whereby forward movement of the mold causes engagement of the blade with certain of said levers, said blade comprising a pair of bars resiliently urged apart, and a second blade fixed to said knife and positioned to lie opposite the remaining ends of the levers upon rotation of .the mold wheel to ejecting position whereby forward movement of the mold wheel causes engagement of the last mentioned blade with the remaining ends of said levers, said mold being adjustable for varying widths and being provided with means for holding it inadjustment releasably whereby to limit movements of said membersin one direction.

17. In a type casting machine having a mold support and a matrix and knife support, a mold carried by the mold support and having a mold cavity and means for blocking off selective lengths" of said cavity, means comprising a pair of bars resiliently urged apart on the matrix and knife support arranged to engage and actuate the first mentioned'means to cause blocking off of a length of the cavity, other means on the matrix and knife support for opening the blocked off portion of the cavity, and cooperating means on the mold and knife support for automatically regulating the width of the mold cavity in accordance with the distance between the knives, one of the pair of bars being carried by the matrix support and the other of said pair urged toward the mold support.

18. In a type casting machine having a mold support and a matrix and knife support, one of said supports being movable toward and from the other, the second sup- '5? port carrying a matrix vise having a movable jaw; a mold supported on the mold support and provided with a mold cavity, a series of mold sizing members carried by the mold and mounted for transverse movement whereby to limit movements of said members in one direction, said knife supportsupporting a fixed knife blade and a movable knife blade, and elements carried by the movable knife and movable therewith to automatically engage the last mentioned means to release the same, said elements being further arranged to engage and adjust the mold for said varying widths in accordance with the movement of the movable knife, one of the pair of bars being carried by the matrix support and the other of said pair urged toward the mold support.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

MICHAEL C. KELLY. JAMES D. FOOTE. 

